ye shall plainly see, but not perceive: make the heart of this people fat, make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, least they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert, and he heal them. If our Gospel be hid (saith Paul) it is hid in them that perish. Men that have long lived under the preaching of the Gospel,1 and yet still remain ignorant and impenitent, let them beware and take heed of this desertion; and they are with trembling to lay to their hearts, that which the holy Ghost speaketh of Hophni and Phinehas,2 They obeyed not the voice of their father, because the Lord would destroy them.
IIII. To go further, he bestoweth on them many worthy properties of faith. As first, a knowledge of the divine truth in the Law and the Gospel. Secondly, an assent to the said truth. Thirdly, a joyful rejoicing and boasting in speaking and hearing of it. Fourthly, an outward profession of it for a time. But he doth not bestow that quality and virtue of faith, which is, as it were, the very soul of it: without which faith is dead and saveth none, namely, the inward assurance and certificate of his love and favour in Christ, with a sense and feeling of the same in heart. Neither are the former duties of faith perpetual and sound in them, for the reprobate is not induced to them by any assurance of Gods mercy, but by other sinister occasions, as are: First, desire of knowledge in divine mysteries. Secondly, a delight in it. Thirdly, praise and commendation among men. Fourthly, the maintaining of wealth and honour. Fifthly, the getting of wealth or honour. Sixthly, a desire to be at unity and concord with the Nation or people where the Gospel is preached. Therefore when these ends and occasions of their believing cease, then also their faith & profession cease. In this kind of desertion, it is to be feared, that most men are. All in our Church will profess faith in Christ: yet seeing the sound conversion to God, and the sincerity of life and doctrine is very rare, we may presume that, that main property of faith which is the receiving and apprehension of Christ, is wanting in most:
ye shall plainly see, but not perceiue: make the heart of this people fat, make their eares heauie, and shut their eyes, least they see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderstand with their hearts, and conuert, and he heale them. If our Gospell be hid (saith Paul) it is hid in them that perish. Men that haue long liued vnder the preaching of the Gospel,1 and yet still remaine ignorant and impenitent, let them beware and take heede of this desertion; and they are with trembling to lay to their hearts, that which the holy Ghost speaketh of Hophni and Phinehas,2 They obeyed not the voice of their father, because the Lord would destroy them.
IIII. To goe further, he bestoweth on them many worthie properties of faith. As first, a knowledge of the diuine truth in the Law and the Gospel. Secondly, an assent to the said truth. Thirdly, a ioyfull reioycing and boasting in speaking and hearing of it. Fourthly, an outward profession of it for a time. But he doth not bestow that qualitie and vertue of faith, which is, as it were, the very soule of it: without which faith is dead and saueth none, namely, the inward assurance and certificate of his loue and fauour in Christ, with a sense and feeling of the same in heart. Neither are the former duties of faith perpetuall and sound in them, for the reprobate is not induced to them by any assurance of Gods mercie, but by other sinister occasions, as are: First, desire of knowledge in diuine mysteries. Secondly, a delight in it. Thirdly, praise and commendation among men. Fourthly, the maintaining of wealth and honor. Fiftly, the getting of wealth or honour. Sixtly, a desire to be at vnitie and concord with the Nation or people where the Gospell is preached. Therefore when these ends and occasions of their beleeuing cease, then also their faith & profession cease. In this kind of desertion, it is to be feared, that most men are. All in our Church will professe faith in Christ: yet seeing the sound conuersion to God, and the sinceritie of life and doctrine is very rare, we may presume that, that maine propertie of faith which is the receiuing and apprehension of Christ, is wanting in most:
- 12. Cor. 4. 5.
- 21. Sam. 2.25
